Thursday, September 11, 2014

9/11 Past, Present & Future

The 13th ‘Anniversary’ of 9/11. And what have we
achieved? What have we ‘learned’? Where are we now?

We had
Iraq and Afghanistan roughly under control for awhile, but not now. Al Qaeda
still exists. As do many, many other terror groups. ISIS/ISIL has sprung up
into a self-proclaimed ‘caliphate’ in the Middle East, ‘promising’ to hit the
U.S. in a big way soon. Hamas and other terrorist entities continue to fire
rockets into Israel on a random basis and then cry ‘foul’ if and when Israel
responds. It isn’t enough for these ‘radical fundamentalist’ Islamic terrorists
to blow up their ownvia suitcase or car
bombs (or bombs attached to the bodies of men, women or children), they also
purposely make sure as many ‘non-combatants’ or ‘civilians’ as possible get
killed in retaliatory strikes so they can use the media to paint their targets as brutal monsters. That is
when they’re not beheading members of the media.

Jihadists
from this country are going over to help the ‘evil-doers’ at an increasing
rate.

This is
a struggle that has been going on for a thousand years and longer. This is an
existential battle between the principles of good and evil, life and death,
freedom and slavery…literally. This, then- not the ‘fights’ against global
warming and invasive species or for ‘marriage equality- ’is the defining issue
for humanity in our time, too.

Thirteen
years ago today, terrorists knocked two gleaming, massive towers out of the
clear blue sky, killing thousands and shocking us all. It is fitting that today
we again remember those who perished and pray for their families.

But let
not solemnity lead to passivity or hopelessness. Or fatigue. The terrorists
tore a hole in our skyline and in our hearts. It is not in their power to tear
out our character or resolve.

We
haven’t won the war against cancer or many other diseases yet either, but no
one suggests we give up the fight. This, too, is a battle that has to be
fought.

Daily Trivia Quiz Answer

Today's Answer: Andrew Jackson. ("Poll" got so worked up before the service he apparently had to be removed from the premises, as he was cussing long and loud).

Q) What words appear on the front of the penny, nickel, dime and quarter, alongside the likeness of presidents?

A) "Liberty" and "In God We Trust"

An Ode To Life

Appreciate all you have, as it- and you- will soon be gone. Leave no heartfelt words unspoken, no sweet gesture incomplete, no act of love undone. Love your spouse with passion and abandon, your kids with patience and understanding but also a firm guidance. Love also the truth, no matter how hard. If pursued by enough people with enough courage, it really will set us free.

And don't forget, we didn't ask to be born. We didn't create ourselves. We are not gods. There is a higher power.

Fireworks of the Mind

Write It Up

Whence Shall Come Another?

True Then, True Now

"If you will not fight for right when you can easily win without bloodshed; if you will not fight when your victory is sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves."- Winston Churchill

Time Well Wasted

The power lies within your hands To do with what you may But the hourglass is filled with sands Of endless yesterdays